PRESS RELEASES
April 02, 2018
This spring, Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London launched a spirited new cocktail menu, in the style of a beautifully vandalised book, featuring drinks inspired by the satirical work of the bar’s namesake: Gerald Scarfe. Following the success of their 2017 menu, Bar Manager Martin Siska, Head Bartender Greg Almeida and the dynamic bar team have created a menu inspired by key cultural figures in recent British history year-on-year, from 2001 to 2018. Featuring extraordinary techniques, rare ingredients and even some never-before-seen caricatures, the new menu is an artwork in itself, and joins the extensive gallery of Gerald’s work that currently adorns the bar’s marble walls.
Iconic British caricaturist, Gerald Scarfe lent his name and artistic talent to Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London when it opened in 2014. Some of Gerald’s most recognised work, including satirical representations of politicians, musicians and the notorious depictions from Disney’s Hercules and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”, can be found in the dedicated space. The cartoons are amusing and conversation-provoking with a section of the room dedicated to the news agenda, entitled ‘Current Affairs Corner’. Here, a changing collection of some of Gerald’s most challenging artwork can be found. Scarfes Bar is a living canvas of works, described by Gerald as “my personal art gallery, where you can see my life on the walls”.
Over the course of a year, the talented Scarfes Bar team, under the helm of Bar Manager Martin Siska (Bar Manager of the Year, CLASS Bar Awards 2018) and Head Bartender Greg Almeida (Hot Stuff Personality of the Year, Imbibe Awards 2018), have taken inspiration from the adroit skills of Gerald Scarfe, with an avant-garde cocktail book. The menu of 18 distinctive drinks features comical creations from Gerald - two thirds of which are bespoke conceptions – as if he has snuck in and defaced a book straight off the shelves in the bar. Each cocktail has been specially curated and inspired by the distinguishing features and quirks of its human counterpart, who have been selected as tongue-in-cheek representations of British culture due to personal achievements of a particular year in recent history.
Drinks created by the innovative Scarfes Bar team include the Ricky Gervais-inspired Office Gossips (2001), a heady twist on a Negroni, with savoury notes and a deep and sumptuous finish. Drawing on Gervais’ penchant for ‘flexitarianism’, the short drink is served with a cauliflower garnish as an accompanying ‘healthy snack’. Twisting up a classic margarita, the Booyakasha is a wicked, spicy cocktail, with a hint of tropical mango depicting the fruitiness of 2003’s Ali G. 2007 heroes Paul McCartney, with the foamy, coffee-flavoured Macca-iato, whilst the On Yer Bike (2008), a tangy shrub cobbler, portrays Foreign Minister, Boris Johnson. Celebrating the Slumdog Millionaire jackpot of 2009 is the Lassi and Champagne infused 50/50, for Danny Boyle. Homage to musical sensation Amy Winehouse comes in the form of the Back to Black for 2011, a milk-punch style drink teeming with smoky notes, in contrast to the citrusy, grassy flavours of professional tennis player Andy Murray’s Drop Shot (2012). An interpretation of the nation’s sweetheart, little Prince George, born in 2013, is depicted by the heavenly non-alcoholic Silver Spoon, whilst the scents of the Highlands can be enjoyed in the Tartan Spartan (2014) embodying Scotsman, Alex Salmond. Naturally, the world’s longest reigning sovereign, HRH The Queen is also present and correct in the bubbly Little Cabbage, a Champagne cocktail with touches of jackfruit and a custom-made “Coronation Scent”. With these remarkable and relevant cocktails, the new menu at Scarfes Bar encourages guests to raise a mischievous glass to the edifying individuals who have helped shape our present lives and future history. The drinks generate a distinctive talking point for adventurous visitors, animating familiar members of recent British history and giving them a contemporary existence in liquid form.
SIGNATURE SERVES FROM THE MENU INCLUDE:
The pertinently named Zingy Stardust is for the late, great David Bowie, and comes in a trophy glass embellished with his signature lightning bolt. Representing the year 2002, when Bowie performed a ground-breaking comeback tour of his 1977 rejected album ‘Low’, this zesty mix of two types of lime, including the rare, juiceless Zara Lebu, shiso and kaffir lime leaves and silky Absolut Elyx, is served straight-up and finished with buzzing Electric Bitters for a drink as memorable and unique as the man himself. A twist on winning classic the Gimlet, the Zingy Stardust is the perfect cocktail to toast one of Britain’s most extraordinary musical heroes.
2004 saw the launch of prime time TV show, ‘The X Factor’, which is the inspiration for the aptly named High Wasted paying homage to poker-faced pop mogul Simon Cowell. Playing on his penchant for high-waisted trousers and tendency to enjoy a cigarette and relaxing dram, this intricate whisky and tobacco highball is made by stirring leather aged Glenfiddich IPA with a white chocolate distillate and tobacco leaf and coconut hydrosol over ice. Finally, the light, yet intense infusion is topped up with London Essence soda. The smoky peat and savoury flavours of the whisky are complemented by the smooth white chocolate distillate, creating a powerful drinking experience that should certainly get a ‘yes from you’.
The epic return of Doctor Who in 2005 saw TV ratings soar, with a viewing figure of 10 million, hurtling the Time Lord and his TARDIS to the top of the ranks. Non-alcoholic cocktail, Doc No.9, named for Christopher Ecclestone who portrayed the ninth generation of The Doctor, is a smooth mix of Seedlip Garden, cucumber, lovage, green pea, and is a bright green hue – a nod to the extra-terrestrial lineage of Doctor Who. The lively serve is garnished with a bean flower and is completed by drops of avocado oil atop the garden-fresh
ingredients. Making sure intergalactic illnesses are kept at bay with no need for medical assistance, Doc No.9 ensures time-travelling imbibers pass the Gallifrey breathalyser with this supersonic sober serve.
Celebrating wildlife luminary Sir David Attenborough, the Naturalist captures flavours of earth, hay and flowers, offset by the smoothness of Star of Bombay gin. With an enduring earthy finish, much like the drink’s namesake, the Naturalist celebrates the year that ‘Planet Earth’ arrived on British screens: 2006. This serene, pastel pink Martini conjures up a sense of peace, with projections of birds of paradise and beautiful ocean scenes with each sip. Encapsulating the poise of Sir David, this serve allows its drinker to relax in an imagined oasis all of their own.
2015’s ‘Most Influential Entrepreneur’, Sir Richard Branson is personified in the Mai-Tai inspired Neck-It, with tropical flavours akin to those that can be found on his private Necker Island. Characteristically smooth and assured, this Tiki-style drink is made using an intense infusion of Banana wine – made with leftover bananas from the kitchen - Covert Fig Distillate, homemade marzipan horchata, Redbreast Lustau and Ron Zacapa 23 for a feeling of added indulgence. Providing guests with a powerful drinking experience indicative of its charismatic namesake, the Neck-It is served in a bespoke cup, adorned with a Branson caricature specifically drawn by Gerald Scarfe depicting him as a hot air balloon, reaching for the stars.
Regally revelling in the Royal Wedding, Off the Market, (2018) is a liquid representation of our Ginger Prince, Prince Harry. Raising a respectful hand, Royal Salute 21yo is offset with a selection of vibrant orange ingredients, including sumptuous saffron and ginger bitters, for a stirred-down and serious take on an Old Fashioned with a playful auburn twist. This concoction’s finish is enhanced and elongated with the intense flavours of Figaro fig liqueur and Carrot Eau de Vie, served in a custom-made hipflask craftily hidden within a book – perfect should Harry wish to smuggle it in with his order of service. Commemorating the year that cheeky chappy Harry settles down for good, the Off the Market has been crafted with his stag do in mind, as his last indulgent drink as a free man – chin chin and tally ho!
The new menu demonstrates the Scarfes Bar team’s passion, proficiency and devotion to detail in creating a stimulating drinking experience, all with an intelligent link back to the caricatures around which they are centred. In a merging of creative skills, that is unique to Scarfes Bar, the team and Gerald Scarfe have once again constructed a palatable menu of entertaining irony. The resulting drinks list is charming and boundary-pushing, as a liquid representation of the talents that have merged to create them.